An Ex Parte Order of Protection is a temporary order that is entered until a hearing is held and is intended to protect you to keep your abuser away from you. To obtain an Ex Parte, go to Room 307 of the Cole County Court House during regular business hours (8am-4pm, excluding state holidays) to complete the forms.
If you wish to prepare the forms before going to the Court House, a link to the Missouri Office of State Courts Administrators Court Forms is listed here. You can obtain the documents necessary for filing for an Ex Parte Order at this location. You will also need to complete a Case Filing Information Sheet with your filing to provide detailed information regarding yourself and the person against whom you are seeking an Order.
These forms are also available on the Missouri Office of State Courts Administrators Court Forms, but if you do not have it completed at the time of filing it at the Court House, you will need to complete one before your filing can be accepted.
If it is an EMERGENCY AFTER HOURS and you live in Cole County, you may bring the completed paperwork to the Cole County Sheriff's Office. An emergency means you are in fear of violence occurring immediately. It is not an emergency if you do not want to take time away from your job to file during regular court business hours.
All Emergency After Hours Petitioners of an Ex Parte or Child Ex Parte are required to appear by 11:00 a.m. the next business day in the Cole County Circuit Clerk's Office (Room 307 in the Cole County Courthouse) to complete the process for filing the ex parte order of protection.
If the order of protection involves a child, you MUST appear to receive a copy of the order from the court the next business day.
FAILURE TO APPEAR WILL RESULT IN YOUR CASE BEING DISMISSED.